Chapter 10

Warning: Strong language

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Merlin do not belong to me; neither does the sorting hat song. The only thing I own is the plot.

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A ball of blue and yellow fire streaked across the night sky; burning millions of degrees millions of miles away. A young boy suddenly felt very small and very insignificant as he watched the comet travel past the infinite number of sparkling stars that dotted the black canvas. He sighed at ran a thin hand through his tangled black locks. What was the point? If everyone was going to call him psychotic and a liar why should he save them? What if they were right? An image of a bushy haired girl flying into a cabinet suddenly struck his sleep-deprived mind. He buried his face into his bony knees and fought back tears.

Everything was his fault. How was he supposed to stop a dark lord if he couldn't even stop himself from hurting his best friend? What kind of fucking hero was he?

He sobbed quietly in the empty common room. He was a coward. Useless.

The stars continued to shine as they always do and the world continued to turn as it always does. Sometimes he had to wonder: how important was he really? Nothing he did would matter in the long run. He was insignificant and so was everyone and everything around him.

"...Harry?" asked a quiet voice from across the room. He jumped and swiveled his head to face the intruder. Hermione looked at him from the doorway to the girl's dormitories with concern etched into her features. As soon as Harry saw the sympathy she showed he broke down once more. Why didn't she hate him? She had every right to.

The bushy haired witch rushed across the dark room and knelt on the window seat next to her best friend, "did you have another nightmare?" Harry's head whipped up to face her with disbelief written on his face. Hermione placed a gentle hand on his toned arm and looked into his green eyes.

Pain.

That was all she saw, all he felt. She saw glimpses of the broken boy she had met four years ago. Hermione could only see a child who had once again lost his way.

"How?" he suddenly croaked, looking into her hazel eyes with desperation.

"What?"

"How do you do that? How do you just forgive me after all that shit I pulled?" he asked, "I'm a fucking monster."

Hermione shifted her body so she sat across from Harry and crossed her arms across her stomach.

"Bloody hell Harry you're a human. Yeah you made a mistake, but that's okay. It's not like you're the only god damned person in the world that's ever messed up" she said soothingly.

Harry looked up at her, "but… Shit Hermione. I hurt you. I landed you in the fucking hospital wing. I...I..." Harry trailed off, burying his head in his knees once again.

"Yeah, but I'm fine Harry. I'm perfectly fucking fine. I get that there's something strange happening to you right now but no matter what happens you'll always have me and Ron and Sirius and Fred and George and Remus and everyone else. None of us will ever leave you Harry; you're our family" Hermione said firmly. Harry's emerald eyes widened for a moment before he offered his friend a small smile.

Hermione took his hand gently and the two silently watched the infinite universe sparkle before them in all its eternal majesty until sleep claimed them both.

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The next morning Neville wandered down the stairs still half asleep, in an attempt to finish the charms homework he had started the night before. He saw his pile of notes lying on the oak table in front of the dying fire and bent down to pick them up. When he straightened back up he noticed two kids sitting on the window seat, hand in hand as they slept soundly and peacefully.

One had his arms wrapped around his thin body covered in thinner pajamas and the other sat opposite of him and had one hand cushioning her head and the other resting comfortingly on her companion's knee. Neville smiled to himself before slowly walking back up the stairs, feeling strangely less panicked than he had only a minute ago.

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Many miles away from Hogwarts, or even the United Kingdom sat a large house atop an even larger hill. Only ten minutes to the east was a small town by the name of Severomorsk. The occupants of the Russian town had always been weary of the building that perched early on temno hill. It had sat abandoned for hundreds of years, but in the past few minutes the superstition around the house had only strengthened as the occupants of the town had seen strange lights flickering in the windows at night and children had reported the occasional scream coming from the upper levels.

Inside the house in question a single fire roared, barely illuminating the cavernous library. Most of the furniture had been covered in tarps, but one armchair in the center of the room sat bare. The occupant of said chair watched the yellow and orange fire with intensity. He raised a chalk white hand so that the tarp haphazardly covering the long mahogany table behind him was whipped off by invisible hands. A long shape stirred in a dark corner and began slithering towards the fire, disturbing the thick layer of dust that coated the worn carpet.

The figure in the chair did not move when a small pop resounded throughout the library, but he did glance toward the enormous snake that had reached his skeleton-like feet.

"Hello Lucius" he finally hissed lacing his chalky fingers together.

"H-Hello Master" the tired man answered, bowing deeply towards the chair.

"You're early," the figure observed, lowering a bony hand to gently stroke the snake on the head.

"Y-yes... I figured it was better than late" Lucius Malfoy answered tentatively.

"You would be correct" hissed the figure, and the tension in the other man's shoulders was visibly defused.

In the next few minutes more people appeared in the abandoned library and began to take their seats at the long table. Soon every chair was filled but the elaborate seat at the head of the table. The figure in the chair slowly stood and glided over to his seat and every pair of eyes in the room watched him ceaselessly.

"Welcome all" said Voldemort, his voice laced with false hospitality, "many of you bring news I trust?"

"Y-yes my Lord" piped up Gibbon, "any accusations of your return have been ignored and not one fool in the ministry will even begin to suspect that any of the rumors may have any grounding."

"Good, good" signed Voldemort, and he listened as twelve more of his minions relayed the information they had been set out to discover. Nothing was amiss and it seemed that Voldemort's plan was more secure now than ever.

"And Severus" began Voldemort and all conversation instantly ceased, "is anything amiss and the fine learning establishment of Hogwarts?" a few snickered at this but were silenced by their master's gaze.

"...Yes my Lord" began the potion's master slowly.

"Please elaborate" said the dark lord, his already thin eyes narrowing into slits.

"The new defense against the dark arts professor, Ben Emrys he is...quite strange" Snape said cautiously.

"He is powerful my Lord" piped in Malfoy, and all eyes turned to him, "my son, Draco has seen it first hand."

"Is that so?" whispered Voldemort.

"Y-yes, during the Ministerium exams, he grabbed one of the Bellum Crystals by accident and it looked like, as Draco described it, a pinkish white sun" relayed Malfoy.

"Impossible" spat Voldemort, "no wizard's body could endure magic of that scale, their core would self destruct."

"I've heard the same thing" said Snape and Malfoy sent him a thankful glance, "he is also fairly intelligent and no one knows much about who he is or his past."

"How old is he?" asked the Dark Lord, looking more and more interested by the second.

"I would estimate early twenties" answered Malfoy and Snape nodded in agreement.

"How much do you know about him?" asked Voldemort, crossing his hands on the table.

"He claims to have attended Hogwarts a few years ago but he is young enough that he would have been my and many of the other teachers' student, although no one remembers him. The headmaster tells me that he has records, but those may have been forged and they are sealed for some reason" answered Snape.

"Which side is he on?" finally wondered Voldemort.

"That... I am not sure. No one is sure of his house but most of the teachers suspect Ravenclaw or Slytherin." Voldemort's mouth twitched slightly upward at this.

"And what do you believe Severus?"

"He...is smart. He knows much someone his age should not know. But he does not fit the average profile of a Ravenclaw as most of his knowledge comes from travel. Although he appears kind and friendly, every move he makes is calculated and he detests anyone questioning his actions, which leads me to believe he was in the Slytherin house if he even attended Hogwarts at all" reasoned Snape, watching his master's facial expressions carefully.

Suddenly the pale man smiled, "you have brought me good news Severus. I would like you to poke around a bit more, learn about this Emrys. Convince him to join us, and if that fails...dispose of him."

"I...Yes my Lord" Snape agreed reluctantly.

"Good. I believe that we've discussed enough for today. Return to your homes and we will convene here again in exactly one fortnight" dismissed and stood from his seat at the head of the table.

It seemed that all his schemes were functioning as planned although this Ben Emrys could be a problem if he was as powerful as Severus believed. But, if he truly were a Slytherin he would have no issue fighting for Voldemort himself.

The pale man gave a sinister smile to himself before turning to his pet snake, "come Nagini, we have much to do."

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Snape rushed to the headmaster's office as soon as he was once again in the castle of Hogwarts. The halls were empty this time of night so he didn't have to worry about anyone seeing his frantic actions. As soon as he reached the two gargoyles guarding the ancient room he panted, "chocolate frog" and was immediately allowed entrance.

He rushed up the stairs in a panic and did not see the slight glimpse of a sneaker that slipped in after him.

"Headmaster" he panted and Albus Dumbledore looked up from the mountain of paperwork that surrounded him.

"Severus?" he asked, clearly surprised, "what's wrong?"

"Albus the dark Lord he...knows. About Ben Emrys, about his strength...Lucius told him everything" panted out Snape. Dumbledore's silver eyes widened slightly and he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Thank you for informing me of this..." sighed Dumbledore wearily before standing up, "it seems I have some matters to discuss with our newest teacher. Snape nodded and followed the headmaster from the office.

As Dumbledore passed through the door leading to the staircase, his silver irises darted off to the side for a moment before continuing on his way.

Many minutes later, the figure finally revealed itself and Harry Potter stood at the entrance to the headmaster's office with a mixture of worry and confusion written on his features. He thought for sure he was going to be found out when the Headmaster looked straight at him, but no.

The young boy rubbed his aching temples and tried to sort through all the information that had been unknowingly thrown his way. Snape had a meeting with Voldemort? Voldemort wanted Professor Emrys? Who was Professor Emrys really and why did Voldemort want him? Pulling an extendible ear from his pocket he rushed out of the hall and back into the main castle. He needed more answers and Harry Potter intended to get them.

He rushed along the corredor, barely covered by his invisibility cloak until he reached Professor Emrys' quarters. Carefully, he snaked the ear portion of the invention under the professor's door and stuck the tube into his ear.

"...Don't know what you mean Albus. I haven't done anything wrong" said Professor Emrys, sounding extremely confused.

"I don't care what your beliefs are Ben, but right now I need to know who you really are. We both know that there's plenty you aren't telling me but let's start with your name" answered Professor Dumbledore, sounding as angry as Harry had ever heard him.

"I have more than one given name but Emrys is the only one that matters," answered Professor Emrys, sounding frustrated.

"If you attended this school, and your powers are as brilliant as I believe, then why doesn't any staff member at this school remember who you are?"

"We discussed this at my interview Albus. I only attended Hogwarts until my third year and I was a quiet child. No one would remember me," countered Emrys.

'That explains a lot', thought Harry. Suddenly, static overtook the ear and the raven-haired boy was forced to yank the cord from his ear. He readjusted the attachment and replaced it.

"...One more" Dumbledore was saying.

"Fine, ask me anything," replied Emrys, sounding a bit angry now.

"Which side are you really on." Harry leaned in towards the door; focused on nothing but the actions inside the room.

"Albus. I am a peaceful man. I love knowledge and teaching. Yes, I am a Slytherin but only my father was magical. That makes me a half-blood. From my knowledge Voldemort does not accept half-bloods...at least not knowingly" answered Emrys, sounding as calm as he had all night, "I am and always will be on the side of justice, no matter who is being prosecuted be it muggles or magic folk. So if you wish for me to join the side of the light I will accept."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment before sighing quietly, "and Ben Emrys, we will accept you. Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix."

Lol little throwback to Uther's magic prosecution at the end there. I know many of you may think it's a little weird that Dumbledore just accepted him like that, but at this point in time he's growing rather desperate and he trusts Merlin for a reason he doesn't understand...yet. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to upload this but I just took my last final today so I should be able to get the next chapter out before New Years. Oh yeah and my birthday's tomorrow so I'M REALLY F***ING PUMPED FOR THAT. Thank you all for the support and I hope everyone has safe and happy holidays. 3